Comparison of self-reported and job-exposure matrix assessed workplace inhalant exposures and their association with obstructive airways disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) are major public health concerns, with occupational exposure to vapors, gases, dusts, and fumes (VGDF) often overlooked as risk factors. This study investigates discrepancies between self-reported and Job-Exposure Matrix (JEM)-assessed exposures in chronic airway obstruction (AO), highlighting the importance of robust assessment methods. Data from the Hamburg City Health Study (2016-2020) were analyzed, contrasting self-reported VGDF exposure with Airborne Chemical Exposure (ACE) JEM assessments. COPD definition followed GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) and GLI (The Global Lung Function Initiative) criteria for an AO. Inter-rater reliability was calculated using Cohen's Kappa. Logistic regression models analyzed VGDF-AO associations, adjusting for confounders. Among 4,811 participants assessed with GOLD criteria, 3,545 met GLI criteria; inter-rater reliability between self-reported and JEM-based exposure was modest (Kappa = 0.29). Awareness of exposure varied between skill levels. Self-reported VGDF exposure was associated with GLI-defined AO (OR 1.48, 95% CI: 1.11-1.96), but not with GOLD-defined AO. JEM assessments did not show an association for either criterion. Discrepancies exist between self-reported and JEM-assessed VGDF exposures, as well as between GOLD and GLI criteria. Enhanced assessment strategies are needed to accurately assess occupational health risks related to COPD.